Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121572278&loc=d3e13433-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119993939&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_RevolvingCreditFacility2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes4.625PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.50PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.10PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes0.75PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFourMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.75PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes6.50PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes9.00PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes7.25PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoSixMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorGuaranteedNotes7.50PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoEightMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Fair Value Measurements - Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Oct. 11, 2018	Jan. 31, 2017
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	9.00%
Less: deferred financing costs	$ 20,782	$ 22,270
Long-term debt	$ 2,898,879	2,968,701
2018 revolving credit facility
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)			5.50%
4.625% senior notes due September 2021
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	4.625%
5.50% senior notes due January 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	5.50%
5.10% senior notes due September 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	5.10%
0.75% senior exchangeable notes due January 2024
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	0.75%			0.75%
5.75% senior notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	5.75%
6.50% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	6.50%
9.00% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Interest rate on senior notes due (as a percent)	9.00%
Fair Value
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	$ 2,560,041	2,229,649
Fair Value \| 2018 revolving credit facility
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	632,500	672,500
Fair Value \| 4.625% senior notes due September 2021
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	85,470	78,862
Fair Value \| 5.50% senior notes due January 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	23,830	18,768
Fair Value \| 5.10% senior notes due September 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	108,324	78,435
Fair Value \| 0.75% senior exchangeable notes due January 2024
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	214,969	169,458
Fair Value \| 5.75% senior notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	436,067	318,871
Fair Value \| 6.50% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	47,772	44,059
Fair Value \| 9.00% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	223,695	185,221
Fair Value \| 7.25% senior guaranteed notes due January 2026
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	467,318	396,106
Fair Value \| 7.50% senior guaranteed notes due January 2028
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	320,095	267,369
Carrying Value
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	2,919,661	2,990,971
Less: deferred financing costs	20,782	22,270
Long-term debt	2,898,879	2,968,701
Carrying Value \| 2018 revolving credit facility
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	632,500	672,500
Carrying Value \| 4.625% senior notes due September 2021
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	86,389	86,329
Carrying Value \| 5.50% senior notes due January 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	25,425	28,443
Carrying Value \| 5.10% senior notes due September 2023
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	120,109	121,077
Carrying Value \| 0.75% senior exchangeable notes due January 2024
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	250,776	279,700
Carrying Value \| 5.75% senior notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	586,308	610,818
Carrying Value \| 6.50% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	50,485	50,485
Carrying Value \| 9.00% senior priority guaranteed notes due February 2025
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	218,082	192,032
Carrying Value \| 7.25% senior guaranteed notes due January 2026
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	559,978	559,978
Carrying Value \| 7.50% senior guaranteed notes due January 2028
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Debt	$ 389,609	$ 389,609